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Plays Well with Others

The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Relationships is (Mostly) Wrong

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Plays Well with Others

Written by: Eric Barker
Narrated by: Roger Wayne
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About this listen

From the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Barking Up the Wrong Tree comes a cure-all for our increasing emotional distance and loneliness—a smart, surprising, and thoroughly entertaining guide to help build better friendships, reignite love, and get closer to others, whether you’re an extrovert or introvert, socially adept or socially anxious.

Can you judge a book by its cover?

Is a friend in need truly a friend indeed?

Does love conquer all?

Is no man an island?

In Plays Well With Others, Eric Barker dives into these questions, drawing on science to reveal the truth beyond the conventional wisdom about human relationships. Combining his compelling storytelling and humor, Barker explains what hostage negotiation techniques and marital arguments have in common, how an expert con-man lied his way into a twenty-year professional soccer career, and why those holding views diametrically opposed to our own actually have the potential to become our closest, most trusted friends.

Leveraging the best evidence available—free of platitudes or magical thinking—Barker analyzes multiple sides of an issue before rendering his verdict. What he’s uncovered is surprising, counterintuitive, and timely—and will change the way you interact in the world and with those around you just when you need it most.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Career Witty Yoga Mental Health Health
All stars
Most Relevant
I lived the tone of this book as much as the valuable content. It’s a no bullshit book about how people relate to each other, why it matters and what we can do to connect more authentically.

Very relatable and relevant

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Eric Barker is a true artist/scientist/human. This book navigates through stories and through the science that make people connect to one another. Thoughtful, insightful, funny and engaging. You will not regret getting this book.

Masterpiece

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This book exceeded my expectations. It addressed such complex relationship dynamics, but in such an easy to digest manner. I was looking for insights into both personal and work relationships and I was not disappointed. I will listen to this again, and perhaps purchase a paperback as it is one I will refer back to time and again. The narrator is terrific and I feel like I heard Eric Barker through his narration. Full disclosure, I'm already a big fan of Eric's but this book further cemented that. He throughly researches his material but still finds a way to teach us something without being preachy. That is an excellent skill. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to better understand themselves as well as the people around them, from lovers, co-workers and strangers.

Informative AND Entertaining!

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As a book, it was really easy to enjoy, surprising and refreshing, it has beautiful stories that illustrate the research yet is incredibly heartwarming too.

It is a fun one :) the voice blends greatly with the writing, so there are times when you can’t help to laugh out loud.

Yet what I find most helpful is the insight into those things that puzzle me in relationships, that are tricky to voice and hence feels tough to find answers, the author did a brilliant job in expressing these questions and was kind enough to offer a compass.

You’ll be delighted, reassured and feel something of an aha! moment. Loved it, so definitely recommend it to you.

Listen to great insight and great advice!

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This is an excellent book. The author managed to pack a lot of scientific information and keep the content entertaining. I laughed out loud in my car several times while listening to this book.

Informative and Hilarious

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